Make your own - No waste - 5 gallon (25# feed) bucket feeder for about $3

[member 373180]

For those wondering if chicks will use these feeders...last year chicks.

I took mine away while the chicks were small because I was worried that they would climb in and get stuck. Anyone run into this problem? I'd love to get my feeders back in there and stop this mess.

 

[MeepBeep]

I was worried that they would climb in and get stuck. Anyone run into this problem? I'd love to get my feeders back in there and stop this mess.

I had a young guinea fowl climb in and get stuck, never a chicken and that was an isolated incident...

 

[COChix]

I took mine away while the chicks were small because I was worried that they would climb in and get stuck. Anyone run into this problem? I'd love to get my feeders back in there and stop this mess.

Didn't have any issues.

 

[henless]

What does this feeder look like on the inside of it ? I need a different feeder due to waste and the bantam cannot get that high up on the one I have now. Thanks.

Here is an inside view of one of my old ones. These are 3" elbows. I have since moved to 4" street elbows since my Roos have larger combs.



Here are my 2 gallon feeders I made for my chicks. I used a 1 1/2" elbow and a 2" elbow. I used the 1 1/2" at about 2 weeks, then moved up to the 2" as they got larger.

 

[member 373180]

I had a young guinea fowl climb in and get stuck, never a chicken and that was an isolated incident...

Didn't have any issues.

Great, thanks! I'll get one back in there and see how it goes.

@henless, how many chicks per feeder do you have so that they all get a chance to eat their fill?

 

[henless]

Right now I have 2 pens. One pen has 10 chickens, the other has 7 chickens. I'm using the larger 4" street elbows, so only 1 elbow will fit in my 5 gallon buckets. I have 1 bucket in each pen.

You have to realize, the chickens don't all hang out at the feeders at the same time. They have access to the feed 24/7, so eat at their leisure. The pics I posted above were taken 2 years ago when I first put my feeder in. Naturally, they all swarmed around the "new" thing in their coop, lol.

I wouldn't have more than 10 chickens per elbow. Either put in more than one feeder, or have more than one elbow for them to eat out of. I plan on upgrading to totes in the future, but haven't felt the need to do so yet. One thing I like about using the street elbows is that you can take them out very easily and put them in something else.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Here is an inside view of one of my old ones. These are 3" elbows. I have since moved to 4" street elbows since my Roos have larger combs. Here are my 2 gallon feeders I made for my chicks. I used a 1 1/2" elbow and a 2" elbow. I used the 1 1/2" at about 2 weeks, then moved up to the 2" as they got larger.

My dad and I were wondering how they manage to get the food? I've read a lot of it and it seems they just stick their heads in and eat??? But my dad has doubts they can reach the food. And I suppose I sort of do too in a way because it seems so far to stick their necks and also I can't see how the food gets inside the pipe? Or it doesn't and they just stick their heads in and rhe food is at the end of the pipe and drops down as it gets more empty? Also my dad doesn't get why people putit an inch off the bottom and asks how they get the food off the bottom. And i find it so interesting so many use them on chicks because I thought someonehad said they would wait till 16 weeks and someone else their chicks used it at 12 but it was early or whatever. Although maybe that is full size and with the smaller size like you have it could work. Sorry for all the questions, your post just reminded me. Anyone can answer.

Right now I have 2 pens. One pen has 10 chickens, the other has 7 chickens. I'm using the larger 4" street elbows, so only 1 elbow will fit in my 5 gallon buckets. I have 1 bucket in each pen. You have to realize, the chickens don't all hang out at the feeders at the same time. They have access to the feed 24/7, so eat at their leisure. The pics I posted above were taken 2 years ago when I first put my feeder in. Naturally, they all swarmed around the "new" thing in their coop, lol. I wouldn't have more than 10 chickens per elbow. Either put in more than one feeder, or have more than one elbow for them to eat out of. I plan on upgrading to totes in the future, but haven't felt the need to do so yet. One thing I like about using the street elbows is that you can take them out very easily and put them in something else.

Mine don't all eat at once anymore like they did as chicks but often it seems 2-3 will want to eat at once, do you think that will be an issue? I only have 8 pullets. Also my dad thinks the totes are a bad idea because if something gets contaminated the whole thing is ruined. Do you think that this is true? I'm hoping to get a bigger run though and will maybe put 2 buckets in anyway. But maybe will go with a smaller bucket instead of 2 full feed bags. But i may go with the totes anyway.

 

[henless]

My dad and I were wondering how they manage to get the food? I've read a lot of it and it seems they just stick their heads in and eat??? But my dad has doubts they can reach the food. And I suppose I sort of do too in a way because it seems so far to stick their necks and also I can't see how the food gets inside the pipe? Or it doesn't and they just stick their heads in and rhe food is at the end of the pipe and drops down as it gets more empty? Also my dad doesn't get why people putit an inch off the bottom and asks how they get the food off the bottom.

And i find it so interesting so many use them on chicks because I thought someonehad said they would wait till 16 weeks and someone else their chicks used it at 12 but it was early or whatever. Although maybe that is full size and with the smaller size like you have it could work.

I wouldn't use the full size feeder with chicks. It would be too easy for them to get up in the pipe. In my case, I have my feeder up off the ground on blocks, so the chicks couldn't reach it.

Sorry for all the questions, your post just reminded me. Anyone can answer.
Mine don't all eat at once anymore like they did as chicks but often it seems 2-3 will want to eat at once, do you think that will be an issue? I only have 8 pullets.

Also my dad thinks the totes are a bad idea because if something gets contaminated the whole thing is ruined. Do you think that this is true? I'm hoping to get a bigger run though and will maybe put 2 buckets in anyway. But maybe will go with a smaller bucket instead of 2 full feed bags. But i may go with the totes anyway.

You could always make a bucket feeder with 2 ports. Once bucket with 2 ports would be plenty for 8 chickens. One bucket holds 25 lbs of feed.


Congrats on getting your first eggs!

 

[ShrekDawg]

That makes a lot of sense! Sounds like they have no problem getting it then? So the inch just allows it to flow?

Ahh okay, that's a good point! The next chicks I'll make a smaller one then and not let them get the big thing.

I thought of the 2 ports but then I unfortunately bought the 4 inch one like @MeepBeep and now you said. When I bought them I didn't realize only one would fit in a bucket so bought 4, 2 for each bucket. Maybe I'll make a tote though or just have one bucket. In the big run I may have 2 buckets but I don't want to waste food or have it go bad or anything. They don't go through it that fast. I usually buy it in the 50 pound bags. Although I did recently get a food storage container, one for dog food and one for chicken food, that's been working great so I could always use one bucket and put the extra 25 pounds in there. Or switch containers and use the small one for the chicken food. I'll have to see.

And thank you!!! We almost have a full carton now! Well, actually we would already have 14 eggs but my dad ate 2 lol

So far only 3 are laying! It was just 2 the first 2 days then a third started laying so for the past 3 days (not including today) it's been 3 eggs. So far today I have only gotten 2 but I am hoping the third one lays today!!!! I really hope the other 5 step up their game soon!!! LOL but the eggs today were the most gorgeous ones yet! Perfect light brown color and perfect shell and a perfect green one also with a perfect shell. Today she had little white specks on it. The third layer is a darker brown. It's so exciting finding the eggs!

 

[mg15]

Here is an inside view of one of my old ones. These are 3" elbows. I have since moved to 4" street elbows since my Roos have larger combs.



Here are my 2 gallon feeders I made for my chicks. I used a 1 1/2" elbow and a 2" elbow. I used the 1 1/2" at about 2 weeks, then moved up to the 2" as they got larger.

Thank you very much. Need this one pronto, well maybe pronto, since I won't be making it, this great !